Malignant histiocytosis associated with mediastinal germ cell tumor:A case report

BACKGROUND Germ cell tumors(GCTs)account for 2%of human malignancies but are the most common malignant tumors among males aged 15-35.Since 1983,an association between mediastinal GCT(MGCT)and hematologic malignancies has been recognized.CASE SUMMARY We report a case in which malignant histiocytosis was associated with mediastinal GCTs.The clinical data of a male patient with MGCT admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital were collected retrospectively.The patient was first diagnosed according to imaging and pathological features as having MGCT,and was treated with surgery and chemotherapy.One year after stopping chemotherapy,imaging showed metastases in the right supraclavicular,mediastinum,hilar region and retroperitoneal lymph node,right pleura,right lung,and right para-cardiac margin.Pathological diagnosis of the liver nodular and hilar lymph nodes included systemic juvenile xanthogranuloma and Rosai-Dorfman lesions with malignant transformation(i.e.,morphological characteristics and immunophenotype of histiocytic sarcoma).Following diagnosis,the patient accepted chemotherapy with vindesine,cytarabine and dexamethasone.Positron emission tomography–computed tomography showed partial remission.The patient was followed-up for 10 mo after the diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis,and no sign of progression or relapse was observed.CONCLUSION Physicians should recognize the possibility of hematologic malignancies being associated with MGCT.Suitable sites should be selected for pathological examination.

Is the traditional Chinese medicine helpful for patients with hematologic malignant diseases? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)for the treatment of hematologic malignant diseases.METHODS:We searched the Cochrane CENTRAL,PubM ed,Embase,Web of Science,AMED,CNKI,Wanfang Platform;China Sinomed and the clinical trial registry web sites and Googlescholar electronically up to June19th,2014 and hand searched related publications.Only randomized controlled trials(RCTs)researching on whether TCM as the adjuvant treatment improved the effect for hematologic malignant diseases were included.Two reviewers extracted data and evaluated the studies independently.Pooled risk ratios(RR)were calculated as outcome measures.Our primary outcomes were the overall response(OR)rate.RESULTS:We retrieved 13143 references and included11 RCTs involved 891 participants after screening.Because the non-significant heterogeneity we used the fixed effect model to combine data and TCM had a significantly higher OR and CR(complete response)rates than the control[RR=1.17,95%CI:(1.10,1.25),P<0.00001;RR=1.24,95%CI:(1.11,1.37),P<0.0001,respectively].Only three studies included in the survival rate analysis.We combined them with random effects model and there was no significant difference between the TCM and control arms.Becauseof the low heterogeneity we used the fixed effect model to combine the non-hematologic adverse effects(AEs)data.Our results showed that TCM significantly decreased non-hematologic AEs rates we researched,the gastrointestinal reaction[RR=0.50,95%CI:(0.37,0.68),P<0.0001],liver and/or kidney injury[RR=0.37,95%CI:(0.26,0.53),P<0.00001]and heart injury[RR=0.24,95%CI:(0.09,0.68),P=0.007].Additionally,TCM had a trend to decrease the infection rate[RR=0.16,(0.02,1.12),P=0.07],but not statistically significantly.CONCLUSION:TCM increases OR and CR rates for hematologic malignances and reduces treatment associated serious non-hematologic AEs.Therefore,TCM should be included in the treatment of hematologic malignances.

Evaluation of febrile neutropenic patients hospitalized in a hematology clinic

Objective:To evaluate the febrile neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies hospitalized in hematology clinic with poor hygiene standards.Methods:A total of 124 patients with hematological malignancies(69 male,55 female)hospitalized in hematology clinic with poor hygiene conditions depending on hospital conditions,between January 2007 and December 2010,were evaluated,retrospectively.Results:In this study,250 febrile neutropenia episodes developing in 124 hospitalized patients were evaluated.Of the patients,69 were men(56%)and 55 women(44%).A total of 40 patients(32%)had acute myeloid leukemia,25(20%)acute lymphoblastic leukemia,19(15%)non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,10(8%)multiple myeloma,and 8(8%)chronic myeloid leukemia.In our study,56 patients(22%)were diagnosed as pneumonia,38(15%)invasive aspergillosis,38(15%)sepsis,16(6%)typhlitis,9(4%)mucormycosis,and 4(2%)urinary tract infection.Gram-positive cocci were isolated from 52%(n=20),while Gram-negative bacilli 42%(n=16)and yeasts from 6%(n=2)of the sepsis patients,respectively.The most frequently isolated Gram-positive bacteria were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci(n=18),while the most frequently isolated Gram-negative bacteria was Escherichia coli(n=10).Conclusions:Febrile neutropenia is still a problem in patients with hematological malignancies.The documentation of the flora and detection of causative agents of infections in each unit would help to decide appropriate empirical therapy.Infection control procedures should be applied for preventing infections and transmissions.

Continuous renal replacement therapy with oXiris®in patients with hematologically malignant septic shock:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND The mortality rate from septic shock in patients with hematological malignancies(HMs)remains significantly higher than that in patients without HMs.A longer resuscitation time would definitely be harmful because of the irreversibly immunocompromised status of the patients.Shortening the resuscitation time through continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)with oXiris^(■)would be an attractive strategy in managing such patients.AIM To explore the effects of CRRT and oXiris^(■)in shortening the resuscitation time and modifying the host response by reducing inflammation mediator levels.METHODS Forty-five patients with HM were diagnosed with septic shock and underwent CRRT between 2018 and 2022.Patients were divided into two groups based on the hemofilter used for CRRT(oXiris^(■)group,n=26;M150 group,n=19).We compared the number of days of negative and total fluid balance after 7 d of CRRT between the groups.The heart rate,norepinephrine dose,Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score,and blood lactic acid levels at different time points in the two groups were also compared.Blood levels of inflammatory mediators in the 26 patients in the oXiris^(■)group were measured to further infer the possible mechanism.RESULTS The average total fluid balance after 7 d of CRRT in the oXiris^(■)group was significantly lower than that of patients in the M150 hemofilter group.The SOFA scores of patients after CRRT with oXiris^(■)therapy were significantly lower than those before treatment on day 1(d1),d3 and d7 after CRRT;these parameters were also significantly lower than those of the control group on d7.The lac level after oXiris^(■)therapy was significantly lower than that before treatment on d3 and d7 after CRRT.There were no significant differences in the above parameters between the two groups at the other time points.In the oXiris^(■)group,procalcitonin levels decreased on d7,whereas interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor levels decreased significantly on d3 and d7 after treatment.CONCLUSION CRRT with oXiris^(■)hemofilter may improve hemodynamics by reducing inflammatory mediators and playing a role in shortening the resuscitation period and decreasing total fluid balance in the resuscitation phases.

Epidemiological and Disease Burden Profiles of Leukemias and Malignant Lymphomas: Overview and Trends in the Republic of Moldova and Worldwide

Introduction: Hematological malignancies (HM) are relatively frequent nosological entities within the structure of morbidity by malignant tumors, exhibiting a severe evolution, restrained prognosis and negative socio-economic impact in the advanced stages and phases. Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the epidemiological patterns, and to evaluate the epidemiological trends and disease burden issues of HM in the Republic of Moldova and worldwide. Materials and Methods: The following research methods were used: epidemiological, descriptive statistics, clinico-analytic. The diagnosis was proved in all cases by histopathological, cytological, cytogenetic, molecular and immunophenotyping examinations. The qualitative type researches were performed and enriched by the narrative synthesis of the data. From the specialized international bibliographic sources and official statistics concerning HM. The narrative review of the reference sources was fulfilled in the form of a synthesis. Results: The number of newly diagnosed and followed-up patients with HM at the Institute of Oncology in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 amounted respectively to 725, 802, 613, 628, 536 and 528, the incidence (new cases per 100,000 population) being 17.6, 19.5, 14.9, 17.7, 15.1 and 20.3. In 2021 HM constituted 6.2% of all newly-diagnosed cases with malignant tumors in the Republic of Moldova. In the same year Hodgkin lymphoma was diagnosed in 10.04% of cases, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas—in 31.63%, multiple myeloma and plasma cells neoplasms—in 7.77%, lymphoid leukemias—in 17.42%, myeloid leukemias—in 12.31%, monocytic leukemias—in 0.95%, and other leukemias—in 16.29%. In 2019 the male rate was 51.5%, and the female rate—48.5%. Within 2 years males were 266 (50.4%), females—262 (49.6%). The age of 50 - 79 years prevailed in both genders (males—65%, females—72.5%). The children constituted 4.0% of the newly diagnosed cases, 4.8% of those under the follow-up at the end of the year 2019 and 6.4% of the newly diagnosed cases in 2021. The disease span from the onset to diagnosis ranged between 1 - 24 months and constituted on average 5.63 months, without a significant difference as compared to 2019 (5.76 months). The incidence of HM in Western countries is 14 - 19 new cases per 100,000 population (4% of all cases with malignant tumors). The incidence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas increased by 45% between 2006 and 2016, from 319,078 to 461,000 cases. Between 2006 and 2016, the incidence of leukemias increased by 26%, from 37,000,000 to 467,000 cases. Conclusions: The epidemiological study revealed slightly lower morbidity by HM in the Republic of Moldova as compared to the West European countries mainly due to the migration of a workable population. The patients with malignant lymphomas, male gender and age categories of 50 - 79 years proved to be commonly registered epidemiological patterns. The narrative analysis of the literature revealed that patients with HM may experience a considerable disease burden with a negative impact on their employment status, working productivity and annual household income.

Ailogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for malignant hematological diseases in patients older than 50 years of age

Objective To investigate the efficiency and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for malignant hematological diseases in patients older than 50 years of age. Methods From May 2002 to January 2010,35 patients P 】 50 years with malignant hematological diseases received allogeneic hematopoietic

Blockade of CD300A enhances the ability of human NK cells to lyse hematologic malignancies

Objective: The human cluster of differentiation(CD)300A, a type-I transmembrane protein with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs, was investigated as a potential immune checkpoint for human natural killer(NK) cells targeting hematologic malignancies(HMs).Methods: We implemented a stimulation system involving the CD300A ligand, phosphatidylserine(PS), exposed to the outer surface of malignant cells. Additionally, we utilized CD300A overexpression, a CD300A blocking system, and a xenotransplantation model to evaluate the impact of CD300A on NK cell efficacy against HMs in in vitro and in vivo settings. Furthermore, we explored the association between CD300A and HM progression in patients.Results: Our findings indicated that PS hampers the function of NK cells. Increased CD300A expression inhibited HM lysis by NK cells. CD300A overexpression shortened the survival of HM-xenografted mice by impairing transplanted NK cells. Blocking PS–CD300A signals with antibodies significantly amplified the expression of lysis function-related proteins and effector cytokines in NK cells, thereby augmenting the ability to lyse HMs. Clinically, heightened CD300A expression correlated with shorter survival and an “exhausted” phenotype of intratumoral NK cells in patients with HMs or solid tumors.Conclusions: These results propose CD300A as a potential target for invigorating NK cell-based treatments against HMs.

Navigating the complex terrain of hepatitis B virus reactivation in the era of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors

In this editorial,we offer a summary of the risk associated with hepatitis B reactivation(HBVr)in the setting of both solid and hematologic malignancies treated with Bruton tyrosine kinase(BTK)inhibitors,with insights derived from current studies.Furthermore,we emphasize the critical need for a framework regarding robust risk evaluation in patients undergoing such treatments.This framework is essential for identifying those at increased risk of HBVr,enabling healthcare providers to implement proactive measures to prevent reactivation and ensure the safe administration of BTK inhibitor therapy.

Risk of hepatic decompensation from hepatitis B virus reactivation in hematological malignancy treatments

In this editorial,we discussed the apparent discrepancy between the findings described by Colapietro et al,in their case report and data found in the literature.Colapietro et al reported a case of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related hepatic decompensation in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia and a previously resolved HBV infection who was receiving Bruton’s tyrosine kinase(BTK)inhibitor therapy.First of all,we recapitulated the main aspects of the immune system involved in the response to HBV infection in order to underline the role of the innate and adaptive response,focusing our attention on the protective role of anti-HBs.We then carefully analyzed literature data on the risk of HBV reactivation(HBVr)in patients with previous HBV infection who were treated with either tyrosine kinase inhibitors or BTK inhibitors for their hematologic malignancies.Based on literature data,we suggested that several factors may contribute to the different risks of HBVr:The type of hematologic malignancy;the type of therapy(BTK inhibitors,especially second-generation,seem to be at a higher risk of HBVr than those with tyrosine kinase inhibitors);previous exposure to an anti-CD20 as first-line therapy;and ethnicity and HBV genotype.Therefore,the warning regarding HBVr in the specific setting of patients with hematologic malignancies requires further investigation.

Preclinical evaluation of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine combined with CD19 CAR-T in the treatment of B-cell hematologic malignancies in vivo

Background:Chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy has achieved marked therapeutic success in ameliorating hematological malignancies.However,there is an extant void in the clinical guidelines concerning the most effective chemotherapy regimen prior to chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy,as well as the optimal timing for CAR-T cell infusion post-chemotherapy.Materials and Methods:We employed cell-derived tumor xenograft(CDX)murine models to delineate the optimal pre-conditioning chemotherapy regimen and timing for CAR-T cell treatment.Furthermore,transcriptome sequencing was implemented to identify the therapeutic targets and elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing the treatment regimen.Results:Our preclinical in vivo evaluation determined that a combination of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine,followed by the infusion of CD19 CAR-T cells five days subsequent to the chemotherapy,exerts the most efficacious therapeutic effect in B-cell hematological malignancies.Concurrently,RNA-seq data indicated that the therapeutic efficacy predominantly perturbs tumor cell metabolism,primarily through the inhibition of key mitochondrial targets,such as C-Jun Kinase enzyme(C-JUN).Conclusion:In summary,the present study offers critical clinical guidance and serves as an authoritative reference for the deployment of CD19 CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of B-cell hematological malignancies.

Prevention of hepatitis B reactivation in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with novel systemic therapies:Who and Why?

The risk of reactivation in patients with chronic or past/resolved hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs is a wellknown possibility.The indication of antiviral prophylaxis with nucleo(t)side analogue is given according to the risk of HBV reactivation of the prescribed therapy.Though the advent of new drugs is occurring in all the field of medicine,in the setting of hematologic malignancies the last few years have been characterized by several drug classes and innovative cellular treatment.As novel therapies,there are few data about the rate of HBV reactivation and the decision of starting or not an antiviral prophylaxis could be challenging.Moreover,patients are often treated with a combination of different drugs,so evaluating the actual role of these new therapies in increasing the risk of HBV reactivation is difficult.First results are now available,but further studies are still needed.Patients with chronic HBV infection[hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)positive]are reasonably all treated.Past/resolved HBV patients(HBsAg negative)are the actual area of uncertainty where it could be difficult choosing between prophylaxis and pre-emptive strategy.

Cervical myeloid sarcoma as an initial clinical manifestation: Four case reports

BACKGROUND Cervical myeloid sarcoma(MS)is a rare hematological malignancy characterized by the formation of extramedullary soft tissue masses in the cervical region.Due to its uncommon presentation in the female reproductive system,cervical MS poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Consequently,there is a pressing need for more research and clinical experience to better understand,diagnose,and manage this condition effectively.CASE SUMMARY This report details four cases,the diagnostic process,treatment strategy,and outcomes,discussing cervical MS as an initial clinical manifestation.The disease exhibits varied clinical presentations,such as irregular vaginal bleeding and pa-lpation of cervical masses.The treatment approaches discussed include neoad-juvant chemotherapy,surgery,and postoperative chemotherapy,though mana-ging the disease remains challenging.The report also features a comprehensive literature review that underscores the importance of immunohistochemistry for accurate diagnosis,identifying key markers,including myeloperoxidase,cluster of differentiation(CD)68,and CD43,stressing the need for further research to improve treatment strategies and prognosis.CONCLUSION Immunohistochemical diagnosis and tailored therapeutic strategies are essential.Further research is crucial in improving outcomes and developing effective treatment protocols.

Hematological Malignancies in Sickle Cell Disease Patients: Report of Four Cases in Togo and Literature Review

Background: Hemopathies were rarely observed in major sickle cell disease patients some thirty years ago, probably due to the high mortality rate among the latter as a result of progressive complications. Thanks to advances in the management of sickle cell disease, patients' life expectancy has increased considerably, exposing them more frequently to neoplasia, including hematological malignancies. The increased risk of leukemogenesis is multifactorial and linked to the pathophysiological mechanisms of the clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease. Study Setting: The clinical haematology department of campus teaching hospital and the paediatric onco-haematology unit of Sylvanus Olympio teaching hospital in Lomé were used as study settings. Observations: Four hematologic malignancies were collected in a cohort of 5847 major sickle cell syndromes. The median age of the patients was 31.25 years (extremes: 14 and 58 years) and they were predominantly female (sex ratio M/F = 0.25). Two were on background therapy with hydroxyurea. Among the four patients, there were two cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia, including ALL3 in a 58-year-old SS woman and T-ALL2 in a 12-year-old SC. Then, a case of lymphocytic lymphoma in a 20-year-old SS man was reported and finally a case of chronic myelocytic leukemia in a 33-year-old woman of Sβ+ thalassaemia phenotype. Conclusion: To further report this coexistence, it is therefore essential to systematically consider hematological malignancies during major sickle cell syndromes even if there are similarities in the symptomatology of these two serious pathological situations.

Prevention and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with hematological malignancies treated with anticancer therapy

Hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus(HBV) reactivation can be severe and potentially fatal, but is preventable. HBV reactivation is most commonly reported in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy, especially rituximabcontaining therapy for hematological malignancies and those receiving stem cell transplantation. All patients with hematological malignancies receiving anticancer therapy should be screened for active or resolved HBV infection by blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen(antiHBc). Patients found to be positive for HBs Ag should be given prophylactic antiviral therapy to prevent HBV reactivation. For patients with resolved HBV infection, no standard strategy has yet been established to prevent HBV reactivation. There are usually two options. One is pre-emptive therapy guided by serial HBV DNA monitoring, whereby antiviral therapy is given as soon as HBV DNA becomes detectable. However, there is little evidence regarding the optimal interval and period of monitoring. An alternative approach is prophylactic antiviral therapy, especially for patients receiving highrisk therapy such as rituximab, newer generation of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, obinutuzumab or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This strategy may effectively prevent HBV reactivation and avoid the inconvenience of repeated HBV DNA monitoring. Entecavir or tenofovir are preferred over lamivudine as prophylactic therapy. Although there is no well-defined guideline on the optimal duration of prophylactic therapy, there is growing evidence to recommend continuing prophylactic antiviral therapy for at least 12 mo after cessation of chemotherapy, and even longer for those who receive rituximab or who had high serum HBV DNA levels before the start of immunosuppressive therapy. Many novel agents have recently become available for the treatment of hematological malignancies, and these agents may be associated with HBV reactivation. Although there is currently limited evidence to guide the optimal preventive measures, we recommend antiviral prophylaxis in HBs Ag-positive patients receiving novel treatments, especially the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, which are B-cell receptor signaling modulators and reduce proliferation of malignant B-cells. Further studies are needed to clarify the risk of HBV reactivation with these agents and the best prophylactic strategy in the era of targeted therapy for hematological malignancies.

Liquid biopsies for liquid tumors: emerging potential of circulating free nucleic acid evaluation for the management of hematologic malignancies

Circulating free nucleic acids; cell free DNA and circulating micro-RNA, are found in the plasma of patients with hematologic and solid malignancies at levels higher than that of healthy individuals. In patients with hematologic malignancy cell free DNA reflects the underlying tumor mutational profile, whilst micro-RNAs reflect genetic interference mechanisms within a tumor and potentially the surrounding microenvironment and immune effector cells. These circulating nucleic acids offer a potentially simple, non-invasive, repeatable analysis that can aid in diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic decisions in cancer treatment.

TMTP1, a Novel Tumor-homing Peptide, Specifically Targets Hematological Malignancies and Their Metastases

TMTP1, a 5-amino acid peptide NVVRQ, obtained by using the flagella peptide library screening in our previous studies, can be used for the labeling of malignant in situ and metastatic lesions, and even micro-metastases. In this study, TMTP1 was assessed for its ability to specifically target the malignant hematopoietic cells and metastatic lesions of hematological malignancies. FITC-TMTP1 was chemically synthesized. Immunofluorescence assay and competitive test were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity of TMTPl to hematological malignant cell lines, including HL60, k562, SHI-1, Jurkat, Raji, El-4 and umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of healthy subjects and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Then the cells were co-clutured with TMTP1 or scrambled peptides and the binding and affinity of TMTP1 peptide to the primary cells of hematological malignancies were flow cytometrically analyzed. The binding speci-ficity of TMTP1 to target hematological malignancies was measured in vivo by intravenous injection of FITC-conjugated TMTP1 into El-4 lymphoma-bearing mice. The results showed that TMTP1 specifi-cally bound to the cells of a series of hematological malignancies, including HL60, k562, Jurkat, Raji , El-4 and chronic myeloid leukemia primary cells but not to bone marrow mononuclear cells from healthy subjects. By contrast, TMTP1 could bind to the metastatic foci of lymphoma originating from the EL-4 cell line while the scrambled peptide failed to do so. Moreover, the occult metastases could be identified, with high specificity, by detecting FITC-TMTP1. We are led to conclude that TMTP1, as a novel tumor-homing peptide, can serve as a marker for primary malignant and metastatic lesions for the early diagnosis of hematological malignances and a carrier of anticancer drugs for cancer treatment.

CAR T Cell Therapy for Hematological Malignancies

As a rapidly progressing field in oncology,the adoptive transfer of T cells that have been genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors(CARs)has shown striking efficacy in the management of hematological malignancies and has been reported in a number of clinical trials.of note,CAR T cell therapy has shown extraordinary potential,especially in relapsed/refractory patients.However,there are still challenges regarding the further development of this strategy,spanning from engineering and manufacturing issues,to limited applications,to accompanying toxicities.In this review,we will summarize the general knowledge of this novel method,including receptor composition,applications,adverse events and challenges.Additionally,we will propose several comprehensive recommendations.

Characteristics of escape mutations from occult hepatitis B virus infected patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt

AIM To investigate the prevalence and virological characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infections in patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt.METHODS Serum samples were collected from 165 patients with hematological malignancies to monitor titers of HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag), and antibodies to HBV core(anti-HBc) and surface antigens. Serum samples negative for HBs Ag and positive for anti-HBc were subjected to nucleic acid extraction and HBV DNA detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction. DNA sequences spanning the S region were analyzed in cases with occult HBV infection. In vitro comparative study of constructed 1.24-fold wild type and S protein mutant HBV genotype D clones was further performed. RESULTS HBV DNA was detected in 23(42.6%) of 54 patients with hematological malignancies who were HBsA g negative, but anti-HBc positive, suggesting the presence of occult HBV infection. The complete HBV genome was retrieved from 6 occult HBV patients, and P120 T and S143 L were detected in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. Site directed mutagenesis was done to produce 1.24-fold genotype D clones with amino acid mutations T120 and L143. The in vitro analyses revealed that a lower level of extracellular HBsA g was detected by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay(CLEIA) with the clone containing T120 mutation, compared with the wild type or the clone with S143 L mutation despite the similar levels of extracellular and intracellular HBs Ag detected by Western blot. Southern blot experiments showed that the levels of intracellular HBV DNA were not different between these clones. CONCLUSION Occult HBV infection is common in patients with hematological malignancies and associated with P120 T and S143 L mutations. 120 T mutation impairs the detection of HBsA g by CLEIA.

Concurrent renal cell carcinoma and hematologic malignancies: Nine case reports

BACKGROUND The presence of renal cell carcinoma(RCC)and hematologic malignancies(HM)in the same patient is rarely observed.Three primary findings have been described in these patients,including male gender and lymphoid malignancy predominance,and the HM are usually diagnosed before or simultaneously with the RCC.There is a lack of evidence about clinical outcomes in this setting.We report the common characteristics of 9 patients diagnosed with concurrent RCC and HM and their clinical course and response to treatment.CASE SUMMARY Four(44%)patients were diagnosed with RCC prior to the HM,the diagnosis was simultaneous in 4(44%)patients,and 1(11%)patient was diagnosed with the HM prior to the RCC.No patients were treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation between the diagnosis of RCC and HM.Several unique features were seen in our case series,such as 3 simultaneous cancers in 1(11%)patient,a splenectomy leading to remission of diffuse large B cell lymphoma without the use of chemotherapy in 1(11%)patient,chemotherapy and rituximab for lymphoma resulting in a complete response in primary RCC in 1(11%)patient,and immunotherapy providing an excellent response for primary renal leiomyosarcoma in 1(11%)patient.CONCLUSION These findings highlight the potential role of immune system dysregulation in patients with the diagnosis of RCC and HM whereby the first malignancy predisposes to the second through an immunomodulatory effect.HM have the potential of being confused with lymph node metastasis from kidney cancer.Lymph node biopsy may be necessary at the time of initial diagnosis or in cases of mixed response to therapy.Long-term medical surveillance is warranted when a patient is diagnosed with RCC or HM.Clinicians should be aware of the higher prevalence of male gender and lymphoid malignancy with concurrent RCC and HM and that either of these conditions may be diagnosed first or they may be diagnosed simultaneously.

Combination of CRISPR/Cas9 System and CAR-T Cell Therapy:A New Era for Refractory and Relapsed Hematological Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy is the novel treatment strategy for hematological malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL),lymphoma and multiple myeloma.However,treatment-related toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome(CRS)and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome(ICANS)have become significant hurdles to CAR-T treatment.Multiple strategies were established to alter the CAR structure on the genomic level to improve efficacy and reduce toxicities.Recently,the innovative gene-editing technology-clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease9(Cas9)system,which particularly exhibits preponderance in knock-in and knockout at specific sites,is widely utilized to manufacture CAR-T products.The application of CRISPR/Cas9 to CAR-T cell therapy has shown promising clinical results with minimal toxicity.In this review,we summarized the past achievements of CRISPR/Cas9 in CAR-T therapy and focused on the potential CAR-T targets.